ONE SIDE OF THE STORY ESPN pumps up poker stars and college dropouts such as 21-year-old Joe Cada, who won the 2009 World Series of Poker, but never feature any of the dropouts who tap out trying to pursue poker careers.AFP/Getty Images

The problem with being no worse than the rest is that few choose to be any better than the rest. CBS has long chosen the raunchiest moments from its sitcoms for promos, but the one from “Two And A Half Men” featuring a bedded threesome in a “drunken escapade,” made for a particularly shameless ambush during last Sunday’s NFL telecasts.

Fox’s NFL telecasts last week were sponsored by the video game “Grand Theft Auto,” which, we were told, is rated “M for mature.” Hey, if its makers relied on the mature to buy and play that game, there’d be no game.

Both CBS, in relation to its cage-fighting, and ESPN, in addressing MNF viewership, this week claimed success in the “key, males 18-34 demographic.” Apparently, sports fans of all ages is no longer a key demographic, but if such viewers wish to watch, sure, whatever.

Speaking of key demographics, the winner of the World Series of Poker, as seen last week on ESPN, was college dropout Joe Cada, at 21, the youngest winner ever. Last year’s champ, college dropout Peter Eastgate, at 22, was the previous youngest. With TV having fueled the Hold ’em craze, lots of kids now drop out of college to pursue poker careers. ESPN, though, doesn’t feature those members of its key demographic who tap out.